Reversible harrow.



T. T. HARDT.

REVERSIBLE HARROW.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 191;.

1,026,912. Patented May 21, 1912.

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TYSON THOMAS HARDT, OF BLUEMONT, VIRGINIA.

REVERSIBLE HARROW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 14, 1911.

Patented May 21, 1912.

Serial No. 643,903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TYsoN THOMAS HAno'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bluemont, in the county of Loudoun and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Harrows;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,'and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to disk barrows, and more especially to thosewherein the disks are mounted in pivoted gangs; and the object of thesame is to construct a harrow of this type wherein each gang of disks ispressed normally toward the earth with yielding force by means on itsindividual beam or support, and yet the disks of the two gangs arecapable of being set or reversed at the will of the driver and as theland conditions may require. This andotherobjects are carried out by theconstruction hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown inthe drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a planView of this improved harrow; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation and partialsection on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4. is a central longitudinalsection on the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in plan,and Figs. 6 and 7 are sections thereof on the lines 6-6 and 7-7 of Fig.5; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail, being an edge view of the barrow; allthese details to be referred to hereinafter; Fig. 9 is a perspectivedetail of the inner end of the fixed barrow-beam.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the wheels mounted on thedropped ends 2 of an axle 3 which is by preference rigidly supported byclips 4 beneath the framework 5, the latter being preferably formed ofU- iron as best seen in Fig. 4 and carrying the usual hounds 6 andtongue 7 needing no further explanation.

It has not been thought necessary to show the whiflletrees, nor theseat, nor other details which form no part of the present invention.

I might here say that the disks 8 are pivotally mounted in hangers 9which are deflected laterally to one side of their shanks 10 so that thelatter may be journaled in upright bearings 11 on a line directly overthe periphery of the disks, all as best seen in Fig. 8; but thisspecific construction of the disk and its direct support are describednow because the use thereof is optional rather than necessary.

Coming now more particularly to the gist of the present invention, thedrawings show this improved harrow as made in two gangs, each gang beinghere illustrated as comprising three disks and the beams on which theyare supported and the connections between said beams and the frame; butit will be understood that there may be more or less disks in each gangand there might be a larger number of gangs although I preferably employbut two as shown. The gangs are duplicates of each other, each occupyingone half of the width of the entire machine as best seen in Fig. 2, andby preference the harrows are also duplicates of each other so that adescription of one will suffice for all. Carried by each end bar of theframe 5 is a drop frame 12 (see Figs. 1 and 1) of substantiallyright-angular construction, its front arm having two bearings 18 and 11and the latter disposed at the angle between its front and rear arms. Atabout the midlength of said frame 5 are disposed two other drop frames15 having similar bearings 13 and 14 in alinement with those justdescribed. (The following description refers to one half of the frameonly). Mount ed in the two bearings 13 is a power shaft 16 having at oneend a lever or handle 17 I carrying a catch 18 moving over a toothedrack 19 so that the shaft may be adjusted in its bearings. Mounted inthe two bearings 1 1 is a lifting shaft 20 also having at one end ahandle or lever 21 having a catch 22 moving over a toothed rack 23whereby this shaft may be adjusted within its bearings. In Fig. 2 thelevers 17 and 21 are shown on the end-bars of the main frame 5, but itis obvious they could be otherwise disposed if desired and I have soillustrated them for sake of clearness. Secured rigidly to andprojecting obliquely downward and rearward from the lifting shaft aretwo arms 24, their lower rear ends connected by a transverse lifting bar25 for a purpose to be described below. Mounted loosely upon this shaft20 are the several beams of the gang of harrows, each beam 26 having itsfront end upturned as at 27 and provided with an eye 28 through whichthe shaft 20 passes loosely; and each beam being also by preferencebraced as at 29 by an oblique bar or brace having a similar eye at itsfront end loosely surrounding said shaft.

Between these two eyes (see Figs. 5 and 7) a strong spring 30 is coiledupon the shaft with its center engaging a pin 31 therethrough and itsextremities hooked behind the upturned front ends 27 of the beam and itsbrace so that the normal tendency of the spring is to throw the rearends of said beam and brace downward, and this tendency can be increasedor decreased by setting the handle lever 21. The lifting bar 25 extendsacross beneath the various beams and their braces as best seen in Fig.2, and when said handle 21 is moved forward far enough over its toothedrack this lifting bar raises all the beams and lifts the disks out ofthe ground in a manner which will be described below. The rear errd ofthe beam 26 carries the bearing 11 in which is journaled the uprightshank 10 of the hanger 9 supporting the disk 8, as best seen in Figs. 4and 8. Thus it will be seen thatthe lifting shaft 20 with its handle orlever 21 is useful for raising the harrows entirely out of the groundwhen they are not to be used, and holding them there when the entiredevice is to be moved over the ground upon its wheels 1; or by movingthe handle 21 in the other direction the lifting bar 25 allows the beams26 to descend until the disks 8 cut into the ground to the desireddepth.

The upper extremity of each shank 10 carries a bevel gear 35 meshingwith another numbered 36 which is secured to the rear end of a shaft 37journaled in bearings 38 rising from the beam 26, and the front end ofthis shaft carries a bevel gear 40 meshing with another numbered 41which is mounted loosely on the shaft 20 and has a pinion 42 on its hubas seen in Fig. 5. Meshing with said pinion is a larger gear 43 which isfast on the power shaft 16, the size of this gear relative to the pinion42 being such that when said shaft is turned through a comparativelysmall arc the several shafts 87 will be turned to a considerable degree.

From this construction it will be seen that by properly setting thehandle 17 the train of gears from the power shaft 16 to the shanks 10 ofthe various disks will cause the turning of the latter within theirbearings 11 at the rear ends of their beams 26.

As at first above suggested, this harrow is made in two entirelyindependent gangs or banks, with a separate pair of levers for each, andit follows that the various disks in either bank may be raised orlowered or setat any oblique angle entirely independent of the similaraction taking place in the various disks of the other bank.

A machine constructed as above described may be used as a straddle-rowcultivator if the two banks or groups of barrow disks are separatedslightly along the center of the machine, as will be clear; but thegeneral use of the machine will be as a harrow, in which case the dishedside of the disks will be set toward the outside of either group or gangso that the soil taken up thereby will be spread in two paths which arediverted from each other ratherthan being piled up into a ridge.Moreover, if the machine should be used on a hill side where itsconstant tendency is in one direction, say toward the right, the angleof the disks in the two gangs could be set accordingly, as by settingthose in the right gangat a rather slight inclination and those in theleft gang at a steeper inclination, and if necessary permitting thedisks in the left gang to de-' scend further into the earth. Thisadaptability of the machine may also be found useful where the soil isdifferent alongthe paths being traveled by the two gangs, as where themachine is drawn alongside a field which may have been plowed up to acertain. point, as well understood.

1 consider it important that the mechanism for controlling the depth ofthe disks in each gang should be within as easy reach and as readilymanipulated by the operator as the mechanism for controlling the angleat which the disks in the gang may be set; because sometimes oneadjustment is neces sary and sometimes another, and sometimes both.Attention is directed to the fact thatwhen the lever 21 is adjusted, thelifting shaft 20 is turned in its bearings 14, but the various beams 26are thrown downward only by spring force added to the weight of theparts carried thereby; but on the other hand when the lever is adjustedin the opposite direction, the lift-ing bar 25 raises the various beamspositively out of the ground- In order that the harrows in each groupmay be rotated completely without interfering with each other, Ipreferably dispose them in staggered relation, and when there are threein a group the central one will be set a little to the rear of the othertwo as seen in Fig. 2.

lVhen this machine is not to be used as a straddle-row cultivator, butit is desired to harrow the ground completely, I employ what I call arelatively fixed harrow beam and harrow (because its disks are notrotatable) located between those of the two groups or banks with itsdisks disposed a little in rear of those at the inner sides of saidgroups. The two disks 8 of this beam are rigidly mounted in a hanger 9which holds their fiat sides at an acute angle to each other, and thehanger is bolted or rigidly fixed to a beam 26 which stands in directalinement with the tongue 7. Its front end is forked, and the arms 29 ofthe fork extend beneath the main frame, over the inner extremities ofthe lifting bars 25, and are upturned at their front ends as at 27 andprovided with eyes 28 mounted loosely on the two shafts 20 adjacent theinner bearings 14. A spring 80 is secured beneath the drop frames 15 andpresses the arms 29 of said fork downward, so that the beam 26 and thedisks carried thereby are depressed and caused to rest upon the innerext-remities of the lifting bars 25. It will be seen from Fig. 2 thatthe disks carried'by this beam, and which are not revoluble like theothers, travel in rear of the tongue and pass along a path which wouldotherwise be left untouched by the two banks or groups, so that whenthis device is used my harrow can be employed to work the entiresurface, but it is obvious that by omitting this device the machine maybe used as a straddle-row cultivator. lVhen either lifting bar 25 israised, its inner extremity raises one arm of the fork 29 and hence theentire beam 26 and with it the relatively fixed disks, al-

-though the latter will be lowered to operative or working position whenboth lifting bars are let down and both gangs of disks are engaging theearth. The relatively fixed disks by preference stand about ontransverse alinement with the rearmost of the disks in both gangs. It isobvious that this device will need no brace because of the fork, andalso because it has its disks set at angles which work against eachother and there is no side draft.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a disk harrow, the combination with the wheeled frame, atransverse shaft therein, a series of beams having eyes loosely mountedon said shaft, and springs for normally depressing their rear ends; ofthe disks whose hangers have upright shanks journaled in said beams, apinion mounted loosely on said shaft adjacent each beam, a train ofgearing connecting this pinion with the shank of the disk carried bythis beam, means for setting the position of said pinions in gangs, andmeans for lifting said beams in gangs.

2. In a disk harrow, the combination with the wheeled frame, atransverse shaft therein, a series of beams having eyes loosely mountedon said shaft, and springs for normally depressing their rear ends; ofthe disks whose hangers have upright shanks journaled in said beams, apmion mounted loosely on said shaft adjacent each beam, a train ofgearing connecting this pinion with the shank of the disk carried bythis beam, a second shaft journaled across the frame, a series of gearsfast thereon and engaging said pinions in gangs, means for setting thegear-shafts from a point on the frame, and independent means for liftingsaid beams in gangs from a point on the frame.

3. In a disk harrow, the combination with the wheeled frame, atransverse shaft there in, a series of beams having eyes loosely mountedon said shaft, and springs for normally depressing their rear ends; ofthe disks whose hangers have upright shanks j ournaled in said beams,means for adjusting said shanks in their bearings from a point on theframe, arms depending rigidly from said shaft alongside the endmostbeams, and a lifting bar connecting said arms and passing beneath thebeams.

4:. In a disk harrow, the combination with the wheeled frame, atransverse shaft therein, a series of beams having eyes loosely mountedon said shaft, and springs for normally depressing their rear ends; ofthe disks whose hangers have upright shanks journaled in said beams, apinion mounted loosely on said shaft adjacent each beam, a t am ofgearing connecting this pinion with the shank of the disk carried bythis beam, a second shaft journaled across the frame, a series of gearsfast thereon and engaging said pinions in gangs, means for setting thegear-shaft from a point on the frame, arms depending from saidfirst-named shaft alongside the endmost beams, and a lifting barconnecting said arms and extending beneath the beams in gangs.

5. In a disk harrow, the combination with a main frame having a liftingshaft journaled therein, means for setting its position within theframe, and beam lifting mechanism carried by this shaft; of a series ofbeams each having an upturned front end provided with an eye mountedloosely on said shaft, a brace projecting obliquely from said beam andhaving an upturned portion provided with an eye also journaled on saidshaft, a pin through the latter between said eyes, a spring coiled onthe shaft with its center engaging said pin and its ends hooked behindsaid upturned portions, a disk carried by the rear end of each beam, andmeans for adjusting its angle.

6. In a disk harrow, the combination with a main frame, a lifting shaftjournaled therein, means for setting its position within the frame, andbeam lifting mechanism carried by this shaft; of a series of beams eachhaving an eye mounted loosely on said shaft, a brace projectingobliquely from said beam and having an eye also journaled on said shaft,a pin through the latter between said eyes, a spring coiled on the shaftand engaging said pin and the beam and brace, disks whose hangers haveupright shanks journaled in bearings at the rear ends of said beams,bearings along the beams, shafts journaled in said bearings, bevel gearsbetween the rear ends of the shafts, and the upper ends of said shanks,and means on the main frame for adjusting the position of said shafts ingangs so as to set the disks at various angles.

7. In a disk harrow, the combination with a main frame, a lifting shaftjournaled therein, means for setting its position within the frame,- andbeam lifting mechanism carried by this shaft; of a series of beams eachhaving its front end provided with an eye mounted loosely on said shaft,a brace projecting obliquely from said beam and having an eye alsojournaled on said shaft, a pin through the latter between said eyes, aspring coiled on the shaft with its center engaging said pin and itsends hooked behind said beam and brace, disks whose hangers have uprightshanks journaled in bearings at the rear ends of said beams, bearingsalong the beams, shafts journaled in said bearings, bevel gears betweenthe rear ends of the shafts, and the upper ends of said shanks, a bevelgear at the front end of each shaft, a corresponding bevel gear mountedloosely on the lifting shaft and having a pinion fast on its hub, apower shaft journaled in the frame and having a series of gears engagingsaid pinions, and means for turning the power shaft so as to adjust theangle of said disks in gangs.

8. In a disk harrow, the combination with a main frame, a lifting shaftjournaled therein, means for setting its position within the frame, andbeam lifting mechanism carried by this shaft; of a series of beams eachhaving an upturned front end provided with an eye mounted loosely onsaid shaft, a pin through the latter, a spring coiled on the shaft andengaging said pin and said upturned portion, disks whose hangers haveupright shanks jo-urnaled in bearings at the rear ends of said beams,bearings along the beams, shafts journaled in said bearings, bevel gearsbetween the rear ends of the shafts and the upper ends of said shanks, abevel gear at the front end of each shaft, a corresponding bevel gearmounted loosely on the lifting shaft and having a pinion fast on itshub, a power shaft journaled in the frame and having a series of gearsengaging said pinions, and means for turning the power shaft so as toadjust the angle of said disks in gangs.

9. In a disk harrow, the combination with the main frame, two gangs ofharrows whose beams are pivotally mounted in said frame, means forsetting all the disks in each gang, lifting bars extending under thebeams of the gangs, and independent mechanisms for elevating said bars;of a central harrow, a

beam therefor forked at its front end and the arms of the fork extendingover the inner extremities of said lifting bars, pivotal connectionsbetween said arms and the main frame, and a spring for normallydepressing said beam.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

TYsoN THOMAS HARDT.

Witnesses:

R. IV. LEVIS, Lnwrs GLovER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

